Outlook lets you view multiple calendars at once in two ways: side-by-side (each calendar in its own panel) or overlaid (calendars merged into a single transparent stacked view, with events color-coded). Overlay is great for spotting conflicts across calendars; side-by-side is better for reviewing each schedule independently.

The catch: every version of Outlook handles overlay differently. Classic Outlook for Windows has the most flexible implementation. New Outlook caught up in 2024 with proper overlay/split toggles. Outlook on the web has a permanent merged view with no toggle. Mobile is similar.

Here’s how to set it up everywhere.

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1. Classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook has the original — and still the most polished — overlay feature. You can stack as many calendars as you want, in any combination of personal, shared, group, and internet calendars.

Open multiple calendars

1. Open Calendar in classic Outlook (or press Ctrl+2).
2. In the Folder Pane on the left, expand My Calendars, Shared Calendars, or any group folder.
3. Check the box next to each calendar you want to view.
4. They open side-by-side by default — each calendar gets its own vertical panel with its own date headers.

Switch to overlay mode

1. Notice the tab at the top of each calendar panel. The primary (left-most) calendar’s tab has a small left-pointing arrow on the secondary calendar tabs.
2. Click the left arrow on a secondary calendar tab — it slides into overlay with the primary calendar. Or:
3. Right-click any calendar tab and select Overlay.
4. The calendars merge into a single grid. Events from each calendar keep their original color, so you can tell them apart at a glance.
5. Repeat for additional calendars to add them to the overlay stack.

Switch back to side-by-side

1. Click the right-pointing arrow on the tab of any overlaid calendar.
2. That calendar pops out into its own panel. The others remain overlaid.
3. Or right-click the tab and uncheck Overlay.

Tip: Outlook remembers your overlay configuration between sessions. The next time you open Calendar, the same calendars will be checked and overlaid.

Change colors for overlaid calendars

When calendars are overlaid, distinct colors are essential. To change a calendar’s color:

1. Right-click the calendar in the Folder Pane.
2. Hover over Color.
3. Pick from the color palette (15 preset colors).

For more on calendar colors, see how to color code your Outlook calendar.

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2. New Outlook for Windows and Mac

The new Outlook desktop app finally got a proper overlay/split toggle in 2024. The implementation is cleaner than classic Outlook but slightly less flexible (you can’t selectively overlay some calendars while keeping others separate — it’s all-or-nothing).

Open multiple calendars

1. Open Calendar in new Outlook.
2. In the left pane, check the boxes for each calendar you want to view.
3. They open in split view by default (each calendar in its own column).

Switch to merged (overlay) view

1. Click the View tab in the ribbon.
2. Click Merge calendars in the calendar layout group.
3. All checked calendars merge into a single view, color-coded by calendar.

Or right-click any calendar in the left pane and choose Merge into one view.

Switch back to split view

1. View tab > Split calendars.
2. Each calendar returns to its own column.

Note: The Merge / Split toggle in new Outlook is global — it applies to every calendar you have checked. If you want a hybrid (some overlaid, some side-by-side), you’ll need to use classic Outlook.

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3. Outlook on the Web

Outlook on the web does not have a separate overlay mode. Multiple checked calendars are always merged into a single view with each calendar shown in its own color. There’s no split view at all.

View multiple calendars

1. Open outlook.office.com and click Calendar.
2. In the left pane, expand My calendars, People’s calendars, or any group section.
3. Check the box next to each calendar you want to display.
4. The view updates immediately. All checked calendars are merged.

Change a calendar’s color

1. Right-click a calendar in the left pane (or click the three-dot menu next to it).
2. Hover over Color.
3. Pick a color from the palette, or click More colors for a full picker.

Workaround: see calendars side-by-side on the web

There’s no native side-by-side option, but you can:

• Open multiple browser windows side-by-side, each viewing a different calendar.
• Use the Day, Work week, or Week view and rely on color coding to differentiate calendars in the merged view.

Note: If you have view permission but not edit permission on a shared calendar, it still appears in the merged view. You just can’t drag events on it.

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4. Outlook Mobile (iOS and Android)

Mobile follows the web pattern: all checked calendars are merged, no toggle.

Show or hide calendars on mobile

1. Open the Outlook app.
2. Tap Calendar at the bottom.
3. Tap the menu icon in the top-left corner.
4. Under each connected account, tap the calendar icons to toggle them on or off.
5. Selected calendars merge automatically.

Change colors on mobile

1. Open the calendar drawer (menu icon).
2. Tap and hold a calendar — or tap the color dot next to its name.
3. Pick a new color from the palette.

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5. Groups vs. Individual Calendars

Microsoft 365 Groups have their own shared calendars that work slightly differently from individual shared calendars.

• Group calendars appear in the Groups section of the Folder Pane (or under Group calendars on the web). They’re shared with every member of the group automatically.
• Individual shared calendars appear in Shared Calendars (classic) or People’s calendars (new Outlook / web). You only see them if someone has shared their calendar with you.

Both types can be overlaid in classic and new Outlook, but Group calendars sometimes have delayed sync — events created on a Group calendar may take a few minutes to appear in your overlay.

Tip: If you manage multiple projects, create a Microsoft 365 Group for each one. The Group calendar gives every team member the same overlaid view without having to share calendars individually.

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Quick Reference

Version	Side-by-side	Overlay/Merged	Mixed mode	Color coding
Classic Outlook for Windows	Default	Per-calendar arrow	Yes	Yes (15 colors)
New Outlook (Win/Mac)	View > Split	View > Merge	No (global toggle)	Yes (palette + custom)
Outlook on the Web	No	Always on	No	Yes (palette + custom)
Outlook Mobile	No	Always on	No	Yes (basic palette)

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Common Issues

A shared calendar isn’t showing up. You need at least read permission on the shared calendar. Ask the owner to share it via share Outlook calendar. If the calendar appears in the pane but is empty, your permission level may be Free/Busy time only — which hides event details.

The overlay is sluggish or laggy. Each overlaid calendar pulls events from a separate source. With 5+ calendars overlaid (especially internet calendars or large team calendars), performance drops. Uncheck calendars you’re not actively using.

Events show in the wrong color. Each calendar has a base color, but categories override that color on individual events. If a meeting has a category color assigned, it’ll show that category color even when overlaid. Remove the category to show the calendar’s base color.

The overlay arrow is missing in classic Outlook. Make sure you have at least two calendars checked. The overlay arrows only appear when there are multiple calendars open. If they’re still missing, click the View tab > Reset View.

New Outlook keeps reverting to split view. This is a known sync issue. Toggle Merge again, or restart the app. If it persists, check Settings > General > Appearance for any overrides.

I want to overlay calendars from different accounts. This works in classic and new Outlook for Windows. On the web, you can only overlay calendars within a single account — you’d need to add the second account as a connected mailbox first.

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Stop Juggling Calendars

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More on Outlook: How to add a calendar to Outlook · How to share your Outlook calendar · How to color code your Outlook calendar · How to set up recurring meetings in Outlook · How to set out of office in Outlook · How to create rules in Outlook · How to use Quick Steps in Outlook · How to schedule an email in Outlook

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